ETHNOMEDICINAL STUDY OF UBAR KAMPUNG FOR DIABETES MELLITUS: INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, BELIEF, AND PRACTICE OF MEDICINAL, AROMATIC, AND COSMETIC (MAC) PLANTS IN SUNDA REGION, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

Abstract

Objective: Over the past several decades, ethnobotany and ethnomedicine have been considered as a more appropriate interdisciplinary approach to drug discovery involving interdisciplinary collaboration. Several studies on ethnomedicine and ethnobotany worldwide have shown that diabetes mellitus has been recognised by the traditional healer as a pathological condition which can be treated with specific medicinal plants. The starting point in an ethno-directed search for anti-diabetic plants is the identification of plant species used by local healers for this purpose. This study aims to document medicinal plants used by local communities for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
 Methods: This ethnographical study highlights the emic point of the local people to documents knowledge, belief, and practice of ubar kampung in Sunda Region. 
 Results: The results of this study reveals 20 of most frequently used of medicinal, aromatic, and cosmetic plants by people in Sundanese community. The majority of plant species used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus belong to the families of Asteraceae (2 species), Lauraceae (2 species), and Liliaceae (2 species).
 Conclusion: Most of the medicinal plants reported in the research area are already publicly acknowledged for their medicinal properties, indicating that their pharmacological activities have been studied in different areas. Medicinal plants such Syzygium polyanthum, Moringa oleifera, Swietenia mahagoni, Allium sativum, and Cinnammomum burmanni have been widely used in several regions by various ethnic groups. Leaves are the most frequently used plant part. In general, infusion and decoction are the most common plant preparation methods in the research area.